Conservation Station is an attraction located at the Rafiki's Planet Watch section, which is accessed via Wildlife Express Train at the Africa section at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is a walkthrough conservation center attraction where guests can learn about the importance of conservation in helping protect exotic species and their natural habitats through the powers of conservation.
History[]
When Animal Kingdom first opened in 1998, the Conservation Station facility opened in the area of what is now Rafiki's Planet Watch albeit without a themed "land" at that moment and like in its current facility name, the area could only be accessed via Wildlife Express Train in the Africa section of the park. The facility itself was later renamed "Rafiki's Planet Watch" in October 15, 2000[3], named after Rafiki from the successful 1994 Disney animated feature film The Lion King, albeit the building itself maintaining the facility's original name. In addition to adding a themed "land" for the Conservation Station area, Rafiki was added as well.
On October 21, 2018, Conservation Station and the rest of Rafiki's Planet Watch temporarily closed to undergo a major refurbishment. The area later reopened in July 11, 2019, eight days before the theatrical release of the 2019 realistic CGI remake of The Lion King. In addition to the attraction's reopening, it also added The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, a drawing class where guests can learn how to draw animal characters from Disney animated films.
Summary[]
Conservation Station, as its name implies, is a wildlife conservation-themed building where guests can learn about the importance of conservation in helping protect endangered species in their natural habitats. The building's roof contains a decoration with various animals on it to represent the diversity of exotic species to fit the attraction's theme. Upon entering the building, guests see a mural of various animals which are used to fit the attraction's them as well as a changing screen which showcases the importance of conservation hence the attraction's theme. Sections inside the building include small animal exhibits which showcase amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates from all over the world. In addition to these, other areas featured in Conservation Center include a veterinary area where veterinarians provide care for animals with medical needs, a nutrition center where animal experts prepare nutritious foods for animals at the Animal Kingdom park, and a science center where guests can learn about the importance of conservation.
As of the 2019 refurbishment, Conservation Station was heavily refurbished in order for the attraction to include windows dedicated to artists and animators at the Disney Studios who used real-life animals for reference in designing animal characters for their films and also features The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, a drawing class where guests can learn how to draw animal characters from Disney animated films where an artist instructs guests how to draw animal characters.
Areas[]
Current Areas[]
- The Animation Experience at Conservation Station: A drawing class where guests can learn how to draw animal characters from Disney animated films, such as The Lion King, The Rescuers Down Under, Bambi, and others.
- Amphibian, Reptile, and Invertebrate Windows: Various animal exhibits where guests can look at amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates, as the name implies.
- Nutrition Animal Center: A nutrition center where animal experts prepare nutritious foods for animals at the Animal Kingdom park.
- Veterinary Treatment Room: An area where veterinarians provide care for animals with medical needs.
- Science Center: An educational section showcasing exhibits which provide guests education about how Disney Conservation Fund helps protect and save species and their habitats.
Former Areas[]
- Animal Cam: An area where guests had the opportunity to use the cameras used in the animal sections around the park which guests could control.
- Eco Heroes: A touch screen kiosk area where guests could interact with biologists and conservationists to learn about education in protecting natural habitats of animals.
- Eco Web: A computer area where guests could learn about conservation organizations as well as the importance of conservation on computers.
- Song of the Rainforest: A section themed around the rainforest, which featured Grandmother Willow from the 1995 Disney animated film, Pocahontas. Guests could learn info about the rainforest habitats and listen to facts about how rainforests help with the Earth's ecosystems through the powers of conservation upon entering the small booths where guests could listen to info upon wearing headphones which feature narration by Grandmother Willow herself. Removed as part of the Rafiki's Planet Watch refurbishment in 2018.
- Shelly's Theater: An educational show hosted by an animatronic/puppet mermaid named "Shelly". It provided guests information about the importance of taking care of the world's oceans and protecting threatened aquatic species. Removed in 2005.
- Wishing Watering Hole: An animal-themed wishing well where guests could toss coins at the well, which could be used to donate to conservationists.
References[]
- ↑ "Rafiki's Planet Watch Reopening on July 11th with All-New Animation Experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom". WDW News Today (June 10, 2019).
- ↑ "BREAKING: Rafiki's Planet Watch to Close Permanently Next Month". BlogMickey (September 21, 2018).
- ↑ "Rafiki's Planet Watch". WDW Radio (September 17, 2007).
External links[]
